September 12, 2019: As announced during today`s MAC Meeting, the Air Gap Sensor for the Delaware Memorial Bridge is now operational. The following link has now been posted to the MAC website under the NOAA PORTS banner on the right side of the web page.

On behalf of NOAA`s Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services, I am happy to share that the Delaware Memorial Bridge Air Gap station is now operational and part of Delaware River and Bay PORTS®.

The real time data can be found by accessing the following webpages.
https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/ports/ports.html?id=8550959&mode=composite
https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/ports/index.html?port=db

NOAA/NOS/CO-OPS provides summaries detailing what the air gap sensors are reporting in our data products. Real-time air gap readings are a measurement from the surface of the water to a defined "air gap reference point" on the bridge. Attached, please find the memo providing detailed information about this particular sensor and mount.

I have included several other stakeholders on this email and ask for assistance from everyone in sharing this letter with individuals you feel will benefit from the information. That help would be much appreciated. Please let me know if there are other parties who should be added to future communications regarding air gap information/data.

If you have any questions about the memo or its contents, kindly let me know.

Maintenance dredging,Delaware City Channel(per NDC):
Attached is today`s pilot plot of the NDC equipment and Dredge Essex locations. The NDC Barges are anchored in the areas shown in the attachment. The dredge has started up digging inbound northwest of Pier 3 between stations 1+00 and -5+00. Once the dredge finishes, it will pull back to begin a wider cut between the same stations.

Please see attached Chartlets showing six objects on New Castle Range as well as one object on Deepwater Point Range. These objects were located by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during our most recent exam survey collected July 2019.

NOAA temporary current buoy deployed near Petty Island(per NOAA):
NOAA has deployed a current survey buoy in location 39.96731N, -75.11724W. The buoy will be deployed until approximately October 2019. See attached chart for further location details.

Tacony-Palmyra Bridge fender repairs (per BCBC):
Please be advised that additional repairs to the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge Bascule Span Piers E and F fenders are required to be performed as part of the above referenced Burlington County Bridge Commission’s maintenance project.
With the pending approval by the United States Coast Guard, the Contractor shall commence with the repairs on Monday May 13, 2019 and be completed on Friday August 9, 2019. The work would be performed only on Mondays through Fridays from 7:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M.

Furthermore, if the Contractor’s crane barge which would be located in the waterway just south of either Pier E or Pier F is required to be temporarily moved, a 24-hour advance notice is requested.

Tacony-Palmyra Bridge truss and arch span maintenance work(per BCBC):
Arch Span:
1. The proposed reduction in clearance is three (3) feet.
2. Work is scheduled to commence on March 21, 2019 and be completed on January 2, 2020. However in order to provide the Contractor access to other waterway spans, the installed underdeck platforms shall remain in place until April 27, 2020.
3. The work above the deck is not listed since it has no effect upon the maritime community,

Bascule Span:
1. The proposed reduction in clearance is three (3) feet.
2. Work is scheduled to commence on July 23, 2019 and be completed on June 18, 2020. This time period includes an expected winter shutdown period. However in order to provide the Contractor access to other waterway spans, the installed underdeck platforms shall remain in place until July 27, 2020.
3. The Contractor has requested eight (8) hours advance notice for all requested bridge openings in order to properly prepare the movable span to be opened. In a meeting with the Contractor this morning, the Contractor shall reassess the advance notice time period to determine the minimum of time that shall be required in order to address its effect upon the maritime community.
4. The Contractor shall work on one (1) leaf at a time until all of the cleaning and painting activities are completed for that leaf then commence with the work on the remaining leaf.

Palmyra Truss Spans:
1. The proposed reduction in clearance is four (4) feet.
2. Work is scheduled to commence on March 21, 2019 and be completed on November 6, 2019. However in order to provide the Contractor access to other waterway spans, the installed underdeck platforms shall remain in place until December 3, 2019.
3. As discussed on February 5, 2019, it is expected that there would be no actual impact to commercial maritime traffic for these specific spans.

45` Channel Transition Update (per USACE):
The USACE has provided the attached surveys and informed the MAC that there are rock pinnacles that remain above the 45` depth on the green side of Marcus Hook Range. These rock pinnacles must be blasted to be removed. Hence, the phased transition plan (posted on MAC site) for utilization of the 45` channel will be paused until further notice at it`s current Stage One draft restrictions.

Environmental restrictions limit rock blasting activities to December 1 - March 15 on this area of the Delaware River. The USACE is working to obtain permits to allow earlier rock blasting. More details to follow as completion timeline information becomes available from USACE

Pier 80 South (per Philaport): PIER 80 STILL IN USE, WITH PRECAUTIONS AS FOLLOWS:
Philaport has identified a section of the seawall that appears to be losing some fill material through a gap on southeast corner of Pier 80 south. We currently have Hudson Engineering looking into the situation and plan on having a dive team on site Saturday to conduct a more through investigation. In the meantime, Hudson Engineers has recommended not utilizing the south east corner for berthing operations until we can identify the problem. Like the situation recently at Pier 84 we would ask that you remain clear of the corner while docking and undocking vessels at Pier 80 south. Philaport will provide updates when appropriate.

Due to soundings for the Upper Delaware that were recently published by the the USACE, the MAC Transit Advisories will be amended to read as follows until further notice:

Upper Delaware River/Vessel Draft Inbound
1. Vessels less than 32`06" FW may transit on any stage of the tide or current.
2.
3. Vessels 32`06" FW or greater up to 38`06" FW in draft should arrive in Philadelphia Harbor no later than 8 hours and 15 minutes, or earlier than 5 hours and 45 minutes from slack flood current at Cape Henlopen.
4. Vessels 32`06" FW or greater up to 38`06" FW in draft shall avoid meeting outbound shipping traffic above the Delair Railroad Bridge.

To facilitate painting, work will continue until 2019. Work platforms will be installed 3 feet beneath the bridge in various locations reducing the vertical clearance to 178 ft. above mean high water at the edge of the navigable channel (187 ft. center of channel). Phase 1 – NJ approach girder and deck truss spans due completion in September 2016. Phase 2 – PA approach girder and deck truss spans, scheduled to commence fall of 2016. Phase 3 – Cantilever truss span, scheduled to commence in 2017 and conclude in 2019. Mariners should exercise caution.